Officer-involved shooting justified

MANTECA - The San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office has determined that the officer-involved shooting death of Ernesto Duenez last year was legally justified.

The District Attorney's Office, the Manteca Police Department and the California Department of Justice conducted a joint protocol investigation into the death of Duenez, 35, who was killed June 8, 2011, in the 200 block of Flores Avenue. The investigation, which included an analysis of Manteca police Officer John Moody's in-car audio and video unit, showed that Duenez was armed with an 8-inch, fixed-blade knife, the District Attorney's Office said.

Duenez was told to put his "hands up" and "drop the knife now," but he ignored repeated orders, the District Attorney's Office said. Moody then said, "Ernie, don't you move or I'll shoot you" and issued two more unheeded commands before opening fire, the District Attorney's Office said.

An autopsy showed Duenez was struck by 11 bullets, including one to the head, and that he had amphetamines and methamphetamine in his system when he died, the District Attorney's Office said.